CHEPSTOW Racecourse will be raising awareness of ‘green’ issues by holding Great Britain’s first environmentally themed Family Race Day on Sunday, July 31.

The ‘Go Green’ Race Day has been organised in association with Keep Wales Tidy whose aim is to improve the local environment and make Wales a better place to live.

The free entertainment will include an educational ‘green zone’ for children and all activities for the youngsters will be operated without the use of electricity.

One of the main attractions is the ‘power bike challenge’ where families will be able to generate energy to charge a mobile phone by pedalling a stationary bicycle.

There will also be music powered by bike in the form of the ‘Big Bicycle Disco’ so if the cycling stops so do the tunes!

Customers are also being encouraged to come to the race meeting by public transport, walk or cycle.

A bus service operates from Chepstow and Newport Railway Stations. There will also be a bus service travelling from Monmouth to Chepstow Racecourse.

A train service runs to Chepstow from major towns and cities including Bristol, Cardiff, Newport and Gloucester.

The first 700 people who arrive by bus will receive a free £2 bet courtesy of Totepool.

The race day programme and children’s colouring packs will be printed on recycled paper and recycling bins will be in use throughout the venue during the day.

From the food and drink outlets, the cutlery, napkins, coffee cups and lids are made out of recycled materials and the takeaway food packaging is bio-degradable.

Phil Bell, executive director at Chepstow Racecourse, said: ”We thought combining one of our popular family race days with an opportunity to raise awareness of environmental issues is the right thing to do.

"Clearly the country’s future environmental strategy will be in the hands of today’s children and we are keen to do our bit to inform them of the challenges that lie ahead.”

There will be varied and exciting entertainment available for all racegoers to enjoy, including:

• A Mascot Race

• Four Face Painters

• A Rugby Zone with the Newport Gwent Dragons

• Three Children’s Entertainers

• A Mobile Climbing Wall

• Trampolines

• Roaming Reptiles

• Donkey Rides

• Circus Workshop

• Giant Garden Games • Crazy Golf

• The Wacky Races

There will also be a Green Zone for children to learn about the environment with activities that include making a seed bomb, making a bird feeder, and make a mini bug hotel.

  • Gates open at 12pm and the first race is 2pm. There is a special early bird family ticket for just £25 (advance only) which gives admission for two adults and unlimited children. Parking is free of charge and you can bring a picnic (no alcohol).